HAVERFORD, Pa. — In front of an energized Gooding '84 Arena crowd on the opening day of the Ford Invite, The Haverford College Volleyball team (4-1) showed resilience in a five-set battle, outlasting visiting Springfield College (3-1. The Friday night contest went to the Fords, 25-17, 20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 15-13. The win is Haverford's second this season against a team receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll.
 
Haverford started strong in the opening set, taking control with a Kayla Chu service ace and an emphatic block from Fiona Moord and Eliana Brown. The Fords shook off a few early errors and stretched the lead behind kills from Elizabeth Cella and Moord. Moord and Brown then combined for some crucial consecutive blocks late in the set to close it out, 25-17.
 
Springfield responded in the second, capitalizing on Haverford's slow start to build a 4-0 lead and seize some early control of the second frame. Brown's attacks steadied the Fords, and a strong service run from Dasha Igonin pushed them in front 10-7. The Pride answered with a stellar  serving run of their own, using a string of aces from Alexa Bonato to swing momentum back and claim the set, 25-20.
 
The third set belonged firmly to the Fords. Charlotte Dziki opened things swiftly with a kill off a Chu assist, and Haverford quickly built a cushion with steady swings from Cella and Moord. Igonin fired in an ace to extend the lead to 15-9, and Moord's kill at 24-14 brought the crowd to to life before a Springfield error sealed the 25-15 win.
 
The fourth was a grind for the Fords. Cella provided an early spark with a kill and an ace, and midway through the frame Izabela Potocnjak floated in an ace to push Haverford ahead 10-8. The teams traded points deep into the set, with neither side able to shake off the other in a back-and-forth battle. The Fords briefly pulled ahead with kills from Cella and Moord. Igonin's ace tied it late at 23-23, but Springfield held on for the 26-24 win to force a decisive fifth frame.
 
In the final frame, Cella opened with a kill set up by Cameryn DeBlecourt, and blocks from Dziki and Maggie Turner gave the Fords a 5-1 cushion. Springfield clawed back to tie it at 12-12, but Haverford steadied under pressure. With the Gooding Arena crowd behind the Fords, Moord delivered the mesmerizing match-winning solo block to secure the 15-13 victory.
 
First-year standout Cella finished with 14 kills and 15 digs to lead the way, while Brown added 13 kills and 13 digs in a double-double effort. DeBlecourt dished out 19 assists and recorded three aces along with 12 digs. Moord contributed nine kills and a team-high six blocks.
 
For Springfield, Emily Keaveney had 15 kills, while Olivia Nealy anchored the defense with 23 digs. Setter Tori Colosimo totaled 37 assists and hit .500 on her own swings, while Jodi Saelua led the Pride at the net with eight blocks.
 
Haverford is back in action tomorrow, hosting Lynchburg (11 a.m.) and Scranton (1 p.m.) in Gooding '84 Arena as the Ford Invite wraps up.